The Big Dilemma : Student Visa OR Visitor Visa !!

Hi, everyone will have their own perspective about this issue. It is also one of the major concern for the IMGs around the world. And lot of us end up taking wrong decisions and repenting in the end.

Before deciding for anything consider this pros & cons :

Student Visa (MPH/MHA) :
PROs: 1. 5 yr visa, nonstop 5 yr stay in US.
2. can do research and even USCE simultaneously
3. develop contacts
CONs: 1. Fees, atleast 1 yr fees u will need to pay. may get scholarship for the 2nd yr but it depends on the uni.
cost of living in the campus. most of us need to work part time to cover that cost, so lesser time for usmle studies.
2. If u intend to complete that course u will be spending 2 yrs of ur life doing the course which ultimately wont help u in becoming a resident ! and if at all u r not completing it (which most of us do) u will waste ur money of ur fees paid also wont get any degree !!

SO JUST FOR THE SAKE OF THE VISA, GUYS I THINK ITS NOT WORTH IT.

B1/B2 VISA :
PROs: 1. comparatively easy to get.
2. more cost effective compared to the student visa. even if u ve to make 2-3 trips to US, its will be cheaper than thousands of dollars of semester fees in MPH.
3. no time wasting for GRE, TOEFL, and the application procedure.
4. We CAN DO observsership, externship, researchship on visitor visa.
5. One can also extend the stay for more 6 months with valid reason (check www.immihelp.com/visas/extend.htm for more info)
6. Developing contacts is not that difficult if u ve relatives there.
7. Have more time to concentrate on studies.
CONs : 1. can stay for max 6 months
2. not having a close relative (a proper place to stay) is one of the negative factor.
3. getting a single entry visa. (not a major issue- as now people r getting multiple entry and also there is no prob in getting the multiple entry the next time u apply)

So guys, its finally up to the individual to decide which way is best for him/her considering the options. No route is perfect. It has its limitations, but according to me visitor visa is better.

People do write in your views, experiences and suggestions about this issue.

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Comment by kelash rai on March 18, 2013 at 10:33am: YOU CAN ALSO GET STUDENT VISA ON USMLE KAPLAN COURSE , AND THAT COST U AROUND 5K DOLLARS . SO DONT THINK WE NEED TO GET REGISTER FOR MPH TO GET F1 VISA

Comment by Abdulhadi Alkeylani on March 19, 2012 at 4:28am: I mean J1

Comment by Abdulhadi Alkeylani on March 19, 2012 at 4:22am: You can try any visa,thats fine. just don't try G1. the worst

Comment by simplysmile on March 26, 2011 at 4:51am: Thank u for ur reply.. Guess i will try first via the B1 route, n god forbid, if things dont work out for me, then i would go the other way...

Comment by Dreaming Minds on March 24, 2011 at 5:37pm: i think you can directly apply for tourist visa and come to the US to visit and go back. there are doctors who get tourist visa to the US to tour USA.

Comment by simplysmile on March 24, 2011 at 7:19am: And which visa is easy to get kaplan F1 or Tourist B1...

Comment by simplysmile on March 24, 2011 at 7:18am: Hello Sir ! i have just completed my step1 and waiting for my scores. I heard about kaplan step2ck+cs, in which they give I-20, and i can go in F1 visa for a year.. I still havent started preparing for my step 2,.,.. I have my uncle there who can sponsor for me, and money is not an issue... I dont know whether i should go through kaplan, or apply for tourist visa and try that way.. PLEASE HELP ME !!

Comment by deepti on March 23, 2011 at 11:00am: sir, thanq for the reply .... my actul aim z residency u r right !!! .. i dont want to remain with out work being here ... my plan if i get student visa... i can able to do partym jobs n get scholarships n also cn get 5 yr visa to write steps der..meanwhile during this period i can able to complete all my steps for residency.. i dont want to take multiple entry visa... wat would u suggest for me ? vch z better?my aunt stays at us .. she can acccomodate for me as well...

Comment by Cyber MD on March 15, 2011 at 11:30pm: yes you can take all USMLE steps in the US. May I know why you would like to take GRE if you want to do your residency training here?